Extra funding for waiting lists welcomed

Media release from the AMA (WA)

Prof Gary Geelhoed talks to the media about the extra funding

The AMA (WA) has welcomed the State Government's decision to provide an extra $30 million for elective surgery, but warns that a long-term reduction in waiting times will only be achievable be providing more hospital beds and more staff for public hospitals.

"Health Minister Kim Hames is delivering on an election promise to reduce public patient waiting times for elective surgery - and he should be commended for that," said Association President Prof Gary Geelhoed.

"However, the main challenge is to provide more capacity in our hospitals so that elective surgery can be done on a long-term sustainable basis rather than by episodic quick fixes.

"But achieving that is going to be difficult when the Government is about to slash the Health budget by three per cent which effectively will rip almost $600 million out of health over four years."

Prof Geelhoed said it was an indication of the problems facing the WA public health system when more than 1400 people were 'over boundary' patients who had waited far longer than was safe for their surgery.

"The Government has recognised these urgent cases need to be dealt with as soon as possible and this initiative will help achieve that," said Prof Geelhoed.

"However, we don't want to be in the same position next year, or the year after, with another 1000 or so patients waiting desperately for surgery to relieve their pain.

"That's the risk we face because the Government is seeking to cut the Health budget by three per cent rather than using any efficiency gains to reduce waiting lists and patients' pain and suffering.

"We need hospitals to be able to have the capacity to tackle the elective surgery waiting list in an orderly, day-by-day basis – and not rely on weekend working parties to reduce the load."

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